Actions should be louder than rhetoric

In our country mainly after the Tazreen Garments fire and the Rana Plaza collapse, foreign buyers started canceling purchase orders one after another. They even pressured the closure of the country's garment factories by alleging non-compliance. Accord and Alliance, a coalition of European and American buyers, visited the garment factories of Bangladesh at various times, creating fear among the entrepreneurs and causing great discomfort among the entrepreneurs. Later on, due to the constructive initiatives taken by the industrial owners, the uncertain situation has gradually been removed and a very favorable situation has been created and many readymade garment manufacturers are turning towards green industrialization.

A significant feature of the concept of green industrialization is the protection of the environment. It is considered a difficult challenge to run the production process in an environment friendly, electricity, water and gas saving, healthy environment, but this challenge can be met through the implementation of green industrialization concept. Our garment sector has to face tough competition with other countries in the international arena. Our readymade garment sector has to move ahead despite many hurdles, setbacks, conspiracies. Globally now everyone has to pay special attention to environmental protection. Garment buyer countries and international organizations and groups are now imposing environmental and labor-friendly conditions in the garment production process. Their satisfaction can only be achieved by fulfilling the conditions and for this now, compliance has to be given special importance in the garment industry. In the past this issue has been kind of ignored. Pressure from foreign buyers has also played a major role in the growing popularity of the concept of green industrialization.

3

There is no alternative to sustainable development to survive in the global market. Therefore, to strengthen our position in the global market, we must focus on environmentally friendly production systems. Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) formulation and implementation should be looked at more seriously, along with financing green industrialization. Consumers worldwide are increasingly interested in sustainable and low carbon footprint clothing, and popular fashion brands are also trying to woo consumers with their renewed commitment to eco-friendly clothing. Bangladesh is one of the low carbon emitting countries in the world, yet it is gaining recognition in the world as a renewable energy consuming country. Bangladesh has the largest number of solar home systems. Renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular in Bangladesh's garment industry. BGMEA signed ENFCC's initiative Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action in 2019, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the apparel sector by 30 percent by 2030. Action should sound louder than words. Just signing deals is not enough.